Props from The Improper Bostonian

"With two dozen extra-virgin olive oils on tap at her store and certifications from some of the most prestigious tasting institutes in the world, Mary Taylor sounds like a sommelier who has been living and breathing high-octane oil for years. But the owner of Harvard Square's recently launched Salt & Olive is relatively new to the biz, a quick study who gave up her longtime job at Puma to pursue the best olive oils, aged balsamic vinegars, spices and teas she can find. Stop in to taste her latest crushes from around the globe—particularly the spicy Spanish Picual, the fennel-sweet Tunisian Chemlali and the Australian Coratina that starts smooth and finishes with a grassy punch. — Elizabeth Bomze